Habitat for Humanity of East King County — builder of residences in the Issaquah Highlands — and Habitat for Humanity of Seattle/South King County merged to form Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King County.

In Issaquah, the East King County affiliate built the 10-unit Magnolia Village complex in the highlands. Habitat for Humanity of East King County dedicated the final residences in the complex in April.

Habitat for Humanity of East King County hosts a charity golf tournament July 30 at The Plateau Club, 25625 E. Plateau Drive, Sammamish.

The best-ball tournament has a shotgun start at 11 a.m. and includes lunch, drinks, contests, prizes, cocktail hour and a light dinner afterward.

This is the second year Habitat supporters Donovan Douvia and Jim Na have co-chaired the tournament.

“We felt we could plan a fun, impactful event that could make a difference in families’ lives,” Douvia said. “One of the best things about Habitat is being able to see the significance of fundraising efforts and how much they can impact a family.”

Tickets for the tournament are $150 per individual and $600 per group of four. Proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity of East King County’s mission to provide affordable housing to hard working, low-income families in the community.

Habitat for Humanity will hold a family information meeting from 6-7 p.m. July 18 at the Issaquah Library.

“These meetings are an opportunity for families to learn about the Habitat for Humanity program and find out if they would qualify for a home,” said Tom Granger, executive director for Habitat for Humanity of East King County.

Lola Reyes moved into her home in the Issaquah Highlands a year and a half ago with her two children.

“They are trying to provide all the necessary information to people before they apply,” Reyes said. “It’s a very comfortable atmosphere.”

Habitat for Humanity of East King County — builder of residences in the Issaquah Highlands — and Habitat for Humanity of Seattle/South King County plan to merge, officials announced April 25.

The groups’ boards voted separately after a report explored the advantages and challenges of combining operations. If the process proceeds as expected, leaders from each group could decide on a formal merger agreement in about 90 days. In the meantime, each affiliate plans to continue normal operations.

“This is a significant step,” said Marty Kooistra, Seattle/South King County affiliate CEO. “The boards concluded that by merging the affiliates Habitat could be more effective in providing affordable homeownership to more families in King County.”

In Issaquah, the East King County affiliate built the 10-unit Magnolia Village complex in the highlands. Habitat for Humanity of East King County dedicated the final residences in the complex April 28.

“Housing affordability remains a big issue in King County,” said Tom Granger, East King County affiliate executive director. “The economies and combined resources of a merger will allow us to do more, and we will have a stronger voice advocating for affordable housing.”

Habitat for Humanity of East King County — builder of residences in the Issaquah Highlands — and Habitat for Humanity of Seattle/South King County plan to merge, officials announced Wednesday.

The groups’ boards voted separately after a report explored the advantages and challenges of combining operations. If the process proceeds as expected, leaders from each group could decide on a formal merger agreement in about 90 days. In the meantime, each affiliate plans to continue normal operations.

“This is a significant step,” said Marty Kooistra, Seattle/South King County affiliate CEO. “The boards concluded that by merging the affiliates Habitat could be more effective in providing affordable homeownership to more families in King County.”

The Seattle Foundation is staging a day of charitable giving in King County — and people can donate to numerous Issaquah-based organizations and groups serving local residents.

The foundation’s GiveBIG fundraising is a daylong event May 2.

GiveBIG invites people to make donations to almost 1,000 nonprofit organizations, including the Issaquah Schools Foundation, Village Theatre, Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery, Habitat for Humanity of East King County, Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, YWCA of Seattle-King-Snohomish and the Together Center.

Each donation made to the more than 1,300 nonprofit organizations profiled on The Seattle Foundation’s website between midnight and midnight receives a pro-rated portion of the matching funds, or “stretch,” pool. The amount of the “stretch” depends on the size of the stretch pool and how much is raised in total donations on GiveBIG day

Find a complete list of participating organizations and donation information at The Seattle Foundation’s website, www.seattlefoundation.org.

Officials used $55,249 in city funds to build affordable housing in other King County cities, including a planned Kirkland shelter for homeless youths and a Bellevue shelter for homeless women.

City Council members approved the expenditure to A Regional Coalition for Housing — a joint group including King County and 15 Eastside cities — in a unanimous decision Feb. 6. Issaquah officials used leftover funds from Eastside Fire & Rescue Station 72 construction to fund affordable housing projects.

“This was one of those last-minute budget decisions that came out of our budget discussion at the end of last year,” Councilman Mark Mullet said. “We decided ARCH was important.”

The items relegated to closets, crawlspaces, garages and junk drawers need not be banished to the landfill during a home decluttering effort.

Local recycling and reuse experts said the trick is to find fresh uses for old and unnecessary items, either through donations or repairs. Items in good condition make ideal candidates for donations to thrift stores. King County and local businesses offer recycling services for many household goods and items in not-so-good shape.

King County EcoConsumer Tom Watson said options abound for unloading the items cluttering the nooks and crannies in a home.

Watson adds another R to the time-tested mantra to reduce, reuse and recycle — repair. Often, furniture and other household items in otherwise good condition can be repaired for less expense and hassle than replacement. Old furniture, for instance, is a candidate for reupholstering.

Arie Mahler, donations manager for Seattle Goodwill, said sending items to a thrift store is a solid choice to reduce clutter — and aid a local nonprofit organization in the process, too.

Together We Build, a group formed by Christians, Jews and Muslims amid the fear and mistrust after the 9/11 attacks, plans to commemorate the 10th anniversary by building homes in Issaquah for families in need.

Habitat for Humanity of East King County hosts the 10th annual Together We Build project from Thursday through Saturday. The timing is meant to reflect the anniversary of the terrorist attacks — the initial impetus for forming the interfaith organization.

(Together We Build members also participated at the Issaquah construction site last week.)

Together We Build unites Christians, Jews, and Muslims to find common ground and learn from each other.

The group raises $20,000 to $50,000 each year. Most of the funds go to Habitat in order to fund homebuilding projects. In the last decade, Together We Build contributed $438,531 — or enough to build four homes.